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Metropolitan Youth Theatre students of the Metropolitan School of the Arts (MSA) of Alexandria and Lorton, Va. will present its student-directed and produced performance of Jonathon Larson’ RENT on Fri., July 31 at 7:30 p.m., Sat., Aug. 1 at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., and Sun., Aug. 2 at 2 p.m. at the1st Stage Theatre in Tysons Corner at 1524 Spring Hill Road, McLean, Va. Tickets are $20 per person and can be purchased online at www.metropolitanarts.org.

Jonathan Larson’s rock opera, which ran for 12 years on Broadway and won both the Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize, is loosely based on Giacomo Puccini's opera La Bohème. It tells the story of a group of impoverished young artists struggling to survive and create a life in New York City's East Village in the thriving days of Bohemian Alphabet City, under the shadow of HIV/AIDS.

Carmello’s of Old Town Manassas, Va. was recently featured as an Open Table diner’s choice award selected by Carmello’s diners making reservations through Open Table. For information, go to www.carmellos.com.

Open Table Diner’s choice winners are selected according to real feedback from diners who booked tables through Open Table. Diners then fill out surveys to rate their restaurant experience.

“We appreciate the Open Table award, and are always pleased to get the positive feedback from our customers,” said Alice Pires, owner of Carmello’s and Monza of Old Town Manassas, Va.

Metropolitan School of the Arts’ (MSA) student, Ben Cook, 17, of Lorton, Va. will perform in the Tony Award®-winning production of Disney’s NEWSIES at National Theatre in Washington, D.C. from June 9 to June 21. Cook is an alumnus of Lorton Station Elementary School in Lorton, Va., where his family still resides. At age 7, Cook began theatre and dance training at Metropolitan School of the Arts in Alexandria, Va., and began to regularly audition for professional theatre at 9 years old. For more information on MSA, go to www.metropolitanarts.org.

Gavin Ohler, 10, of Arlington, Va. was awarded third place in LearningRx’s annual Presidents Day contest, by reciting the U.S. Presidents in order while playing Hannon on the piano. The U.S. President recitation is a memory-enhancement exercise that helps LearningRx students increase their short-term and long-term memory. For more information, go to www.learningrx.com.

The contest is designed to encourage kids across the country to create videos that demonstrate the memory and focus skills they improved with LearningRx brain training.

To celebrate Valentine’s Day, Bellezza Spa of Centreville, Va. is featuring chocolate facials the entire month of February, complemented with free strawberries and beverage. Customers who request a chocolate facial, will receive a free Dermalogica travel kit as well, valued at more than $30, which includes a facial cleanser, facial toner, an exfoliant and eye cream. For more information, go to www.bellezzaspava.com or call 703.266.0063.

“We love Valentine’s Day and chocolate facials are a sweet way to pamper yourself or your loved one,” said Paola Berrios, owner of Bellezza Spa of Centreville, Va. “The antioxidants and moisturizer naturally found in chocolate, provide soothing and refreshing effects on your skins,” said Berrios.